Firefighters Confirm Barber Shop Fire Was Arson

YAKIMA--Fire investigators believe an early morning fire at a barber shop was arson, the sixth in Yakima this year.

Five fire departments responded to the early morning blaze at Jagz Barber Shop. Early damages are estimated at 75,000 dollars.

This video is from early this morning. Crews responded to the 800 block of summitview avenue at one a.m. They had to break the store's windows to safely fight the fire. Crews got the blaze under control before it completely wrecked the building.

"Structurally the roof and attic are in pretty good shape," Ron Melcher, Yakima Fire Department, said. "There was some heavy damage to about half the building on the inside [and] smoke damage throughout the building."

Melcher couldn't tell us why the department suspects arson. Their investigation is ongoing.

A nearby store owner says this block is poorly lit at night, and there several stores have been broken into recently.

Melcher said this isn't the first arson the department has seen in this area.

There was an arson fire in this neighborhood about two years ago that still has not been solved. Firefighters aren't sure if the two are related.

The fire department's offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest.